On October 11, 2016 at approximately 1:14 pm, Hillsborough County deputies responded to a shooting at 12009 Park Avenue in Seffner. Deputies and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responded and secured the residence.
The victim (Destiny Mayes) was transported to Brandon Hospital where she was pronounced deceased.
Witnesses were interviewed and advised an individual known as “Q”, later identified as Uthman Jalabi told everyone to get out of the residence for thirty minutes. Jalabi was observed fleeing the residence in his brown Crown Victoria and was located in the area of Woodberry and Falkenburg Road.
Jalabi’s vehicle was observed to have blood on the driver’s door handle and he admitted throwing a gun in the wooded area near his vehicle.
The gun was recovered and was determined to be a .38 caliber revolver with only one spent casing in the cylinder. Jalabi was interviewed by detectives and told detectives that he had slapped the victim, preventing her from leaving the residence, and admitted to being in possession of the firearm as well as attempting to get rid of the firearm.
The victim and the suspect are known acquaintances.
Jalabi was charged with First Degree Murder, Kidnapping, and Tampering with Evidence.
The investigation continues.